Choosing colours - log cabin stars quilt

I've booked myself on a quilt-making course at my local quilting shop. I've always wanted to try log cabin and I decided the course (or courses, they do lots and I've booked ahead for two more) will push me out of my comfort zone, ie squares, and make me start and finish a few quilts. I never showed you the one I made last year for my daughter, I must take some pictures.

Anyhow, the course is on Saturday and today I chose my fabric. Four light colours, four dark colours, red for the stars and a turquoise gingham style for the outer border. I'm going to use some scraps of red left over from the placemats for the centre of the log cabins, as is traditional to represent the hearth. Here's the fabric.

I think for me this is the hardest part of making anything. I can do the sewing, I can put the thing together. My machine quilting needs practice but I don't mind a home made, less than perfect look. The binding doesn't worry me, in fact sometimes I think it is my favourite part, hand stitching it to the back, the final final stage. It's the colours, the values of light and dark, the hues. I think it is a case of too much choice and too much analysing. So hence the course. Push me into doing just that, in the expectation that it will get easier..... maybe?

Busy busy

Making and growing. It was so unseasonably warm today I was actually tempted to the allotment. I confess I am a fair-weather gardener so a mild day in January is a rare chance to get ahead with tasks for spring. Mild weather means more weeds of course, so I spent an hour weeding and mulching fruit bushes then planted some garlic. Ok so that should have been planted ages ago but hey, it has two chances, yes? I was so busy I forgot to take pictures but here are some pics from about this time last year. What a contrast!

And in other news, the other job for January is, of course, marmalade! Nine jars to be precise, just about enought to keep us going till next year. Might make another batch while the oranges are still in the shops, I do like to be able to give some away too. It's been a very self-sufficient sort of day.

Eureka!

My next project, it just came to me. Our bedroom is decorated in a very soft salmon sort of pink. Nicer than that sounds though:). We used to have a blanket at the bottom of the bed which went beautifully, two shades of pink, cream, and a silvery grey. Until we got a puppy which destroyed it one day.

Earlier today I saw this photo

From here

Isn't it beautiful? Well, I have wanted to do a granny blanket, but this is a much more sophisticated look don't you think? All I need to do now is find the exact colours in exactly the right soft wool.

Right, on with the ripple, just a few more rows to do, then a border. I've been practising borders, I will show you tomorrow hopefully.

Goodnight, sweet dreams. I shall be crocheting in mine I am sure!

Happy new year

Such a busy social whirl! So many lovely people to see (so much baking, tidying and entertaining) It is going to be quite strange to go back to our normal, term time routine. Here are some New Year pictures from the past couple of days.

Plan ahead

Saw this scarf. Thought I'd give it a go. The stitch is lovely, soft yet thick. So I did as Jenn suggested, crocheted a few swatches, tried a few different size hooks.

Hubby chose the texture he liked best, no holes. I worked out how many chain stitches I needed to get the length I wanted.

I was loving how it was crocheting up. Then...

I ran out of wool! Oops, what an idiot, now I have to rethink the whole thing. I've had this particular wool in my stash ever since I made a sweater for my son when he was three. He's 14 now, so I guess I'm not going to be able to source another ball. Frog it and make a hat maybe? Oh well, we have to learn from these lessons don't we?

Merry Christmas!

Hope yours was a good one :)

School's out

And the house changes, teenagers just fill the space with their presence, their friends and their mess... But we will miss them when they leave.

And I've been baking. Gluten free mince pies, I am quite pleased with them. GF pastry is tricky, no stretchy gluten to help it stay together. But in the interests of an inclusive tea party I mastered them :)

My pastry recipe
100g proprietary gluten free flour (eg dove's farm)
1 teaspoon gluten free baking powder
50g sunflower margarine
One egg yolk
(Scant)Tablespoon icing sugar
Tablespoon ground almonds

Rub fat into flour, stir in sugar and almonds. Add egg yolk and a small splash of water. Bring together gently until it forms a light ball. Add a very little more water if needed, don't make it soggy. No need to chill, there is no gluten to develop. Place on a sheet of cling film big enough to hold rolled out pastry. Cover with another sheet the same size. Roll out pastry between the two sheets to .5mm thick or so. Cut out circles with pastry cutter to fit your bun tin (don't forget to grease first). I got 10 out of mine. Use a fish slice or similar to lift the circles of pastry carefully, press gently into tin. Fill with mincemeat (I used home made so I knew it was gluten free, check your ingredients first) top with festive shapes cut out of scraps of pastry or leave open as you prefer. Bake 12-15 mins at 180'C till golden brown. Cool slightly, use a fork to gently prise out of the tin, dust with icing sugar.
Enjoy!